DCS vows smooth takeover of Mangaung prison, says contingency plans in place

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS)Mangaung Correctional Centre and expects the facility to come under the department’s Grootvlei Management Area on July 1.

Readiness and contingency planning

Briefing the Correctional Services Portfolio Committee, National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale said the decision not to extend the public-private contract with the Bloemfontein Correctional Centre consortium was made in 2021 and that the department has been preparing for the transition for two to three years.

“It is going to function like any other facility. We have even planned for the unforeseen,”

Thobakgale told MPs the department is ready to manage the facility, though he clarified:

“We are at a point where we are ready to manage the facility, not take over.”

Staffing and recruitment concerns

The department advertised posts in April and reported receiving about 24,000 applications for nearly 700 positions, and shortlisting is under way. A presentation to the committee said the termination of the Mangaung contract remains the subject of litigation.

Thobakgale said the department would absorb G4S employees only if they qualify and pass the department’s security tests. He warned that absorption would be limited to those who are “fit for purpose” and would not expose the department to risks experienced previously, referencing the escape of prisoner Thabo Bester.

“But we firmly indicate we will only absorb employees from G4S who qualify, also only employees who passed test in terms of our security processes, who are fit for purpose and will not expose us to the risk we experienced, especially the issue of an erstwhile escapee,”

Secondments and interim security

The department’s presentation referenced the secondment of 200 department officials to assist with security, management and operations of the centre while recruitment is finalised.

Legal fight with G4S

The DCS told the committee it has instructed the State Law Advisor to appeal a recent Labour Court judgment. G4S took the department to court over the employment of its personnel as the department prepares to take over management of the facility.

Thobakgale declined to discuss details of the court case at length but noted that similar litigation often reached the apex court and that G4S had litigated against the department on other matters.

“That does not stop us from continuing to execute our responsibilities as administration,”

he said, adding:

“The management of Mangaung Correctional Centre from July 1 is not going to be a friendly process. It will be smooth but won’t be friendly on the side of those opposed to letting go.”

Questions from MPs

Some MPs expressed reservations about the timeline and the late advertising of posts. DA MP Janho Engebrecht said he was not convinced of the department’s readiness. ANC MP Mzwanele Sokopo noted there were 28 days left until the takeover and that it was “shocking that the posts were only advertised in April.”

Kgomotso Ramolobeng, chairperson of the portfolio committee, said the lateness of the advert suggested the department might not have realised all necessary steps. Minister Piet Groenewald said he understood concerns about the timing of the appeal filing but said Thobakgale had a contingency plan. Deputy Minister Lindiwe Ntshalintshali asked the department to go through the process and return to report to the committee. Ntshalintshali also said the high number of applications showed that people needed work.

What the DCS says next

The department reported on multiple workstreams to deal with the management of the prison and confirmed it had instructed legal appeal action. It emphasised vetting of incoming staff and contingency measures to manage the transition.